These days a signwriter is still called exactly that but we have come a long way from were where it all started. Digital capabilities have been introduced which has taken the hand skills away from the once skillful art.
Check out this video link below which shows you a quick 2:30 minute video with interviews from real signwriters showing and talking about the skill and the trade. It also shows you the lack of skill, design and flare that some signs seem to have these days because any tom, dick and harry buys a printer and calls them self a sign writer.
Hope you enjoy this video =)